Assessment of groundwater quality using statistical methods: a case study

Abstract

Human activities substantially contribute to the rise of various contaminating ionic levels in the water, which translates in a risk to humans, flora, and fauna. Assessment of groundwater quality is very important to estimate the contaminants to take preventive measures and predict future disasters. The statistical method is very effective in combining this estimation with other tools. As a case study, Aurangabad city of India was chosen and 55 groundwater samples were collected from the dugwells and borewells according to the domestic location of the inhabitants and the location of the various industries. The study aims to create various graphs that expose the human-related health risks posed by the considered contaminants. All the samples were analyzed to trace the amount of a considerable range of pollutants; consequently, a health risk assessment for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks was carried out. A water suitability study for irrigation and drinking purposes found that in the studied samples, nitrate was present as the major pollutant among the others. Industrial wastewaters mainly caused nitrate pollution in the area and solid fertilizers and pesticides.